It may seem unlikely, but there is no need to cross the ocean to find hills glowing with red and orange. In Italy, autumn lights up the woods like an open-air gallery, with shades changing hour by hour.
The foliage season is attracting more and more visitors, drawn by the chance to breathe deeply and take a break. That is where the real surprise lies: some Italian forests combine a spectacular show of colour with measurable wellbeing benefits. These are five places where autumn becomes a full experience, with Canadian-looking scenery and paths made for walking.
Fai Respiratory Park, Paganella, Trentino-Alto Adige
A forest where relaxation is not just a feeling, but also the subject of scientific research. Near Trento, among the dense beech trees and conifers of the Paganella area, Parco del Respiro is described as a therapeutic park for wellbeing.
Here, bioresearchers and agronomists have analysed the air beneath the tree canopy, identifying natural emissions of beneficial volatile substances released by beech trees, Norway spruces, Scots pines and larches.
Walking and breathing deeply along its trails can bring about a widespread feeling of calm. According to studies cited on site, prolonged inhalation of these compounds is associated with effects such as reduced stress, lower blood pressure and a more effective immune response.
Cansiglio Forest, between Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia
Ancient and vast, Cansiglio Forest is one of Europe’s most striking green spaces. In autumn, beech, fir and larch trees colour its slopes in contrasting shades that shift between copper and deep purple. Its extensive network of trails and educational routes makes it possible to pass through varied habitats without losing your bearings, moving between plateaus, clearings and centuries-old trees.
It is worth bringing binoculars for birdwatching and a camera for unusual perspectives. On clear nights, the area is also well suited to stargazing, helped by the lack of large towns nearby.
Umbra Forest, Gargano National Park, Puglia
The name says it all: light filters through slowly here, shaping the surroundings and creating painterly pockets of shade. Umbra Forest, inside Gargano National Park, is considered one of Italy’s last primaeval forests.
Centuries-old beech trees are among its defining features, alongside oaks, Turkey oaks and numerous black pines. Together, they create a dense autumn woodland setting.
The trails are signposted and cater for different levels of experience. One of the best-known routes is the Bear Trail, which leads to the so-called House of Spirits, an old stone shelter deep in the woods.
Casentino Forests, Monte Falterona and Campigna National Park, Tuscany
A patchwork of biodiversity covering more than 36,000 hectares, this national park was established in 1993. Its mixed woodland includes beech trees, pines and firs. In autumn, streams cutting across the valleys and small pools of water reflect the changing tree canopies, creating scenes that alter with the daylight.
The variety of environments allows for walks through shaded sections as well as stops at panoramic viewing points, with plenty of reasons to pause and look around. It feels like a vast natural theatre, with the foliage taking centre stage.
Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, central Apennines
An icon of Italian conservation since 1922, this national park protects scenery that comes into its own in autumn. Its forests range between beech woodland and pine groves, creating shifting colour palettes across the slopes of the central Apennines.
Biodiversity is one of the area’s defining features, and the park has long played a key role in protecting wildlife. The changing mix of woods, grasslands and valleys keeps the experience fresh, with views transforming just a few bends along the road.
Article first seen on Turisti per Caso: Sembra di stare in Canada: le 5 foreste italiane dove l’autunno è un quadro a cielo aperto
